Gas valves



C- C. LAMAR Oct. 9, 1956 GAS VALVES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 1, 1951 C. C. LAMAR GAS VALVES Get. 9, i956 @2412 z/afav/ Claw/es (f law/awr 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 w mm a I!!! W 5 fl mvwxw 'lllllfllllllll, I

- ylllll Filed Sept. 1, 1951 GAS VALVES Charles C. Lamar, Chicago, EL, assignor of one-fourth to Phiiip S. Harper, one-fourth to Carolyn L. Harper, and one-fourth to Harris Trust and Savings Bank, Chicago, 111., (an Illinois banking corporation), as trustee of The Philip S. Harper Trust, and one-fourth to said Harris Trust and Savings Bank as trustee of The Carolyn L. Harper Trust Application September 1, 1951, Serial No. 244,813

7 Claims. (Cl. 137625.12)

The present invention relates to gas valves and especially to so called double gas valves, i. e., valves used with gas burners having two burner sections and wherein a single valve unit controls both burner sections. Burners of this type are called double burners and one of the burner sections is called the main burner and the other is called the simmer burner.

It is an object of the present invention therefore, to provide a new and improved valve for a double gas burner which is simple and compact, inexpensive to manufacture, will give years of satisfactory service, and which provides desired operating conditions including a regulatable supply of gas to both burners and, preferably, to the simmer burner alone.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved double gas valve of the disk type comprising means for supplying a regulatable quantity of gas to the simmer burner only, and simultaneously regulatable quantities to both the main and simmer burners.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved rotating disk type valve for double gas burners which is capable of providing uniform turn down of the simmer and main burners including means for gradually closing, in a turn down range, the gas inlet passageway before the passageways to the main and simmer burners are closed, and further including a carryover passageway to supply a minimum quantity of gas to both burners at the end of the turn down range.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize the invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a top view partially in section of a gas valve embodying the present invention, the valve being in its off position;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 2, assuming that Fig. 2 shows the complete structure;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2 also assuming that Fig. 2 shows the complete structure;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2, again assuming that Fig. 2 shows the complete structure;

Fig. 6 is a view taken in part along the line 66 and in part along the valve seat 14 as shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 77 of Fig. 6; but also including a portion of the valve body shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 2, assuming that Fig. 2 shows the complete structure; and

Figs. 9, l and 11 are views similar to that shown in Fig. 8 for different operating positions of the gas valve of the present invention.

In brief, the double gas valve of the present invention Patented Oct. 9, 1956 includes a valve body having a gas inlet passageway and a pair of gas outlet passageways, of which the latter lead to the main and simmer burners of the gas range with which the present invention may be employed. The valve further includes a rotatable valve element, such as a disk, having a recess defined therein for interconnecting the inlet and outlet passageways in a predetermined manner. This recess is so shaped and positioned relative to the disk as to provide uniform turn down of both the simmer and main burners, an off position, a full on position, in which the recess registers with both the inlet passageway and the two outlet passageways, and an intermediate simmer only position in which the recess registers with the inlet passageway and the simmer burner outlet passageway. This recess is furthermore so defined that, for the uniform turn down of both the main and simmer burners, the recess is moved out of registry with this inlet passageway while registry with the simmer outlet passageway is maintained. In order to supply gas to at least the simmer burner at the end of the uniform turn down range and before the simmer only position is reached the disk valve member is provided with an additional recess and a carryover port affording a passageway for a limited supply of gas from the inlet passageway to the main recess. According to a further feature, the carryover port is located so that it is unlikely to become clogged for example, with lubricating grease, in use.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 thereof, there is illustrated a double gas valve constructed in accordance with the present invention and indicated as a whole by the reference number 10. It comprises a valve body 12 having a fiat ground valve seating surface or seat portion 14, best shown in Figs. 2 and 5 of the drawings, which surface is the terminus for a gas inlet passageway 16, a simmer burner outlet passageway 18, and a main burner outlet passageway 20. The inlet passageway is located between the outlet passageways and to one side of a line passing through the centers of the former.

The inlet passageway 16 may be at least partially located in an externally threaded boss 22 indicated as being disposed in a vertical direction and adapted for attachment to the usual gas supply main as shown at 24 in Figs. 1, 2 and 5 of the drawings. The outlet passageways and specifically the simmer burner passageway 18 and the main burner passageway 24) are located Within longitudinally extending spaced apart externally threaded bosses 26 and 28, respectively. The passageways 18 and 20 are indicated as disposed in a generally horizontal position and their outer ends may be cooperatively associated with adjustably mounted hoods 30 and 32 provided with orifices and cooperating with fixed needle valves (not shown, but which may be of conventional construction) secured to the valve body to provide nozzles through which gas is selectively supplied to both burners. The outlet nozzles are adjusted to determine the quantity of gas flowing to the main and simmer burners when the valve is in position to supply a full quantity of gas to the simmer burner or both burners. It will be apparent that the valve body 12 described thus far is of relatively simple construction having a flat surface 14 defining the valve seat which is the terminus of the passageways 16, 18 and 20. For the purpose of supporting additional means for defining an enclosing chamber, the valve body 12 includes integrally formed laterally projecting ears 34.

The enclosing chamber includes a cup-shaped housing 36 comprising a pair of cooperating laterally projecting cars 38 whereby suitable fastening means such as screws 39 may fasten the housing 36 to the valve body 12. The housing has at its bottom a central aperture 40 for ac? commodating a conventional horizontally disposed valve,

operating stem 42. The valve stem 42 may have two fiat surface portions 44 and 46, respectively, for accommodating the handle (not shown) and position indicating mechanism, respectively.

In accordance with the present invention, there is disposed within the chamber defined by the valve body 12 and the housing 36 a rotatable valve member 48 which is provided with an accurately ground surface 5% in frictional engagement with the valve seat 14 on the valve body. Moreover, this valve member is provided with a recess 52 of a particular configuration best shown in Figs. 6 and 8 to 11 of the drawings. This configuration might be termed a sort of hook or kidney shaped configuration which is such as to close the inlet passageway 16 in the closed position of the valve shown in Figs. 2 and 8 of the drawings. The particular relationship of the recess 52 relative to the passageways 16, 18 and 20 will be described in greater detail hereinafter in connection with other views of the drawings.

For the purpose of interconnecting the valve disk and valve stem, there is provided a valve operator 54 in the form of a disk having a pair of laterally projecting fingers 55 and 56. These laterally projecting fingers 55 and 56 are adapted to be disposed in a pair of cooperating recesses 57 and 58, respectively, in the valve disk 43 on the side opposite the recess 52. The valve operator 54 is suitably connected to the valve stem as by the valve stem portion 42a of somewhat rectangular cross section fitting into a similarly shaped opening 60 in the valve operator. The end of the portion 42a may furthermore be peened over, staked or otherwise suitably secured to the valve operator 54 whereby the valve stem and valve operator become a unit of assembly of the gas valve of the present invention. To accommodate the peened over portion of the end 42:: of the valve stem 42, the valve element 48 is preferably provided on its adjacent surface with a cooperating recess 62.

In order to maintain the valve disk 48 in gas tight engagement with the seat 14 and the valve operator operatively connected to the disk, there is provided a suitable compression spring 66 disposed within the housing 36. One end of the spring engages the operator 54 to push it toward the disk and thus the disk toward the seat. The other end of the spring 66 engages the position indicating washer 68 mounted loosely on the valve stem and which abuts against the inside of the bottom of the cup-shaped housing 36.

The valve position indicating washer 68 is illustrated best in Fig, 4 of the drawings. The washer 68 is preferably provided with a laterally projecting finger 70 for engagement with suitable stop means defining the limit positions of the valve, such as the off and full on positions. The stop means are indicated at 72 and 74 and they comprise deformations or indentations of the housing 36 at the junction of its side and bottom walls. Thus, in the closed position of the valve as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings the finger 70 engages stop 74 and in the full on position of the finger 70 engages stop 72.

In order to provide an indication as well as to position the valve disk 48 for the simmer position of the gas valve, the disk 68 is preferably provided with a plurality of diametrically opposed notches 76 which cooperate with raised protuberances 78 in the bottom of the housing 36. These protuberances tend to move the positioning and indicating disk 68 slightly away from the bottom of the housing 36 until the simmer position is reached, whereupon the protuberances fall into the receses 76. A clicking noise isobtained to give an indication of this position and the protuberances 7 8 preferably have a slight incline at the leading and trailing edges thereof so that the housewife by applying a slightly increased clockwise or counterclockwise force to the valve stem may displace the disk slightly in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the valve stem 42 and release the protuberances 78 from the recesses 76. The positioning and indicating disk 68 is provided with a D-shaped opening 80 at its center to receive the valve stem 42 which has a generally corresponding cross section at this point drivingly to relate the two.

Reference will now be had to Figs. 8, 9 and 10 of the drawings which illustrate the valve in its off, simmer and full on positions, respectively. In the off position of the valve, the recess 52 is out of registry with the inlet passageway 16. In the full on position, where the valve disk is displaced substantially from the off position the recess 52 is in registry with all three passageways, thereby providing the full on position with gas being supplied at the maximum rate to both the simmer and main burners. In the simmer position, recess 52 is in registry with the inlet and simmer outlet passageways, While the main burner outlet passageway 29 is closed. The relative angular positions are indicated by the position of the arrow 82, which points in the direction of the valve stem fiat 44.

In accordance with the present invention, the recess 52 is so configured as to provide a uniform turndown of gas supplied to both the main and simmer burners as the valve is moved from the full on position toward the simmer position. ually closing the inlet passageway 16 and this is done by an inwardly extending portion 52b of the disk which gives the recess an irregular shape and which moves over the inlet passageway as the disk is turned clockwise, as viewed in Figs. 9 and 10, from the Fig. 10 to the Fig. 9 position.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention there is provided a minimum supply of gas, at least to the simmer outlet passageway, at the end of the turn down range (see Fig. 11), so as to prevent extinguishment of the flame at the simmer burner. This is done by a carryover passageway comprising the relatively large recess 84 in the portion 52b of the disk and the small passageway 86 interconnecting the two recesses 84 and 52. The small passageway 86, it will be noted, is located away from the fiat engaging surfaces of the valve disk and seat so that it will not become clogged in use.

A regulatable or unifrom turn down supply of gas is supplied to the simmer burner only when the valve is turned toward the off position from the simmer position, i. e., when the valve disk is turned from the Fig. 9 position to its Fig. 8 position in a clockwise direction, as viewed in these figures. This results from the gradual closure of the simmer outlet passageway by portion 52b of the disk followed by gradual closure of the inlet passageway.

In view of the detailed description included above and particularly in view of the four operating positions shown by Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 11 of the drawings, the

operation. of. the double gas valve 10 of the present invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art. As noted heretofore Fig. 8 represents the off position of the valve, Fig. 9 represents the simmer position in which gas is supplied to the simmer burner only, Fig. 10 represents the full on position in which both the main burner and simmer burner are full on, and Fig. 11 represents approximately the end of the turn down range in which both burners are fed at a reduced rate determined by the carryover passageway. It will be apparent that a slight additional clockwise rotation of the valve disk 48 as viewed in Fig. 11 of the drawings will cause the supply of gas to the main burner to be completely cut off and will cause the simmer burner section to be fed at a low rate through the carryover passageway 86.

From the above description it will, moreover, be apparent that there has been provided a double burner gas valve which is of very simple construction and which can be assembled in a simple manner. During the assembly operation, the coil spring 66 and positioning and indicating disk 68 are inserted over the valve stem 42 which latter is then inserted through the opening 40 in the housing 36. The valve disk can then be placed in the housing with the fingers 55 and- 56 of the valve op- This is readily accomplished by grad-z erator 54 engaging the respective recesses 57 and 58 and the entire assembly completed by applying the fastening means 39.

While there has been illustrated and described a particular embodiment of the present invention, it will be understood that various changes and modifications will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, and it is intended in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.

What is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A double gas valve for simmer and main burners, and operable from an off position to a simmer position wherein gas is supplied to the simmer burner only and to a full on position wherein gas is supplied to both the simmer and main burners, including in combination, a valve body having a plane surface defining a valve seat, said valve body having an inlet passageway and simmer and main burner outlet passageways terminating at said surface, said inlet passageway being located between said outlet passageways and to one side of a line passing through the centers of the outlet passageways, a disk type rotatable valve member having a plane surface engaging said valve seat, a first recess in said rotatable valve member and opening on the surface of said member for connecting said inlet passageway with both the simmer and main burner outlet passageways in the full on position, said rotatable valve member having a portion extending into said recess in the region between the inlet and main burner outlet passageways in the full on position of the valve member, said portion gradually closing said inlet passageway before the recess moves out of registry with said outlet passageways, thereby to provide uniform turn down of the gas to both outlet passageways as said valve member is moved from the full on position toward the simmer position, a second recess in said portion of the rotatable valve member, and a small carryover passageway in said rotatable valve member interconnecting said first and second recesses, for supplying a predetermined minimum quantity of gas to both outlet passageways, said second recess being positioned to register with said inlet passageway when said valve member is between the simmer and full on positions and at the end of the uniform turn down range.

2. A double gas valve for simmer and main burners, and operable from an off position to a simmer position wherein gas is supplied to the simmer burner only and to a full on position wherein gas is supplied to both the simmer and main burners, including in combination, a valve body having a plane surface defining a valve seat, said valve body having an inlet passageway and simmer and main burner outlet passageways terminating at said surface, said inlet passageway being located between Said outlet passageways and to one side of a line passing through the centers of the outlet passageways, and a disk type rotatable valve member having a plane surface engaging said first surface, a recess in said valve member and opening on the surface of said member for connecting said inlet passageway with both the simmer and main burner outlet passageways in the full on position, and said rotatable valve member having a portion extending into said recess in a region intermediate the ends of the recess for gradually closing said inlet passageway before the recess moves out of registry with said outlet passageways thereby to provide uniform turn down of the gas as said valve member is moved from the full on position toward the simmer position.

3. A double gas valve for simmer and main burners, and operable from an off position to a simmer position wherein gas is supplied to the simmer burner only and to a full on position wherein gas is supplied to both the simmer and main burners, including in combination, a valve body having a plane surface defining a valve seat, said valve body having an inlet passageway and simmer and main burner outlet passageways terminating at said surface, a disk type rotatable valve member having a plane surface engaging said first surface and movable from the off position a first angular distance to the simmer position and a greater angular distance to a full on position, and said rotatable valve member including structure defining a recess opening on the surface of said member for connecting said inlet passageway only with said simmer outlet pas-sageway in the simmer position and with both the simmer and main burner outlet passageways in the full on position, said structure including a portion located between the inlet and main burner outlet passageways in the full on position for gradually closing the inlet passageway, thereby to provide a uniform turn down of the gas to both outlet passageways as said valve member is moved from the full on position toward the simmer position.

4. A double gas valve for simmer and main burners, and operable from an off position to a simmer position wherein gas is supplied to the simmer burner only and to a full on position wherein gas is supplied to both the simmer and main burners, including in combination, a valve body having a plane surface defining a valve seat, said valve body having an inlet passageway and simmer and main burner outlet passageways terminating at said surface, a disk type rotatable valve member having a plane surface engaging said first surface and movable from the off position a first angular distance to the simmer position and a greater angular distance to a full on position, and said rotatable valve member including structure defining a recess opening on the surface of said member for connecting said inlet passageway only with said simmer outlet passageway in the simmer position and with both the simmer and main burner outlet passageways in the full on position, said structure including a portion located between the inlet and main burner outlet passageways in the full on position for gradually closing the inlet passageway, thereby to provide uniform turn down of the gas to both outlet passageways as said valve member is moved from the full on position toward the simmer position and said structure including another portion adapted gradually to close said inlet passageway for providing a uniform turn down of gas to said simmer burner outlet passageway as said valve member is moved from the simmer position to the off position.

5. A double outlet gas valve including a valve body having a seat portion, a disk valve element rotatable with respect to said seat portion, said valve body having an inlet port and a pair of outlet ports terminating at said seat portion, a recess in said valve element for interconnecting said inlet passageway with one or both of said outlet passageways depending upon the relative positions of said seat portion and valve element, said recess being defined by structure extending between said inlet and one of said outlet passageways and closing said inlet passageway to provide uniform turn down of gas passing from said inlet passageway to both outlet passageways by effectively closing said inlet passageway before either outlet passageway is closed, and means defining a carryover passageway in said extending structure of said valve element and connecting said recess and inlet passageway for supplying a limited amount of gas from said inlet passageway to said outlet passageways when said inlet passageway is out of registry with said recess.

6. A double outlet gas valve including a valve body having a flat seat portion, a disk valve element rotatable with respect to and having a surface engaging said seat portion, said valve body having an inlet passageway and a pair of outlet passageways terminating at said seat portion, a recess in said valve element for providing registry between said inlet passageway and one or both of said outlet passageways depending upon the position of said valve element, said recess being so related to said inlet passageway and outlet passageways as to move out of registry with the former before moving out of registry with latter thereby to provide uniform turn down of gas supplied to both said outlet passageways, and means including a carryover passageway in said valve element located to one side of the said surface thereon and communicating with said recess and inlet passageway for supplying a reduced quantity of gas from said inlet passageway at least to one of said outlet passageways while said inlet passageway is out of registry with said recess thereby to supply gas to said one outlet passageway.

7. A double gas valve for simmer and main burners, and operable from an off position to a simmer position wherein gas is supplied to the simmer burner only and to a full on position wherein gas is supplied to both the simmer and main burners, including in combination, a valve body having a plane surface defining a valve seat, said valve body having an inlet passageway and simmer and main burner outlet passageways terminating at said surface, said inlet passageway being located between said outlet passageways and to one side of a line passing through the centers of the outlet passageways, a disk type rotatable valve member having a plane surface engaging said valve seat, a first recess in said rotatable valve member and opening on the surface of said member for connecting said inlet passageway with both the simmer and main burner outlet passageways in the full on position, said rotatable valve member having a portion extending into said recess in the region between the inlet and main burner outlet passageways in the full on position of the valve member, said portion gradually closing said inlet passageway before the recess moves out of registry with said outlet passageways, thereby to provide uniform turn down of the gas to both outlet passageways as said valve member is moved from the full on position toward the simmer position, a second recess in said portion of the rotatable valve member, and a small carryover passageway in said rotatable valve member located away from the plane surface on said disk and interconnecting said first and second recesses, for supplying a predetermined minimum quantity of gas to both outlet passageways, said second recess being positioned to register with said inlet passageway when said valve member is between the simmer and full on positions and at the end of the uniform turn down range.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,083,086 Pratt et al. June 8, 1937 2,106,942 Beehler Feb. 1, 1938 2,521,092 Pratt Sept. 5, 1950 

